Mathematical Induction MAT30 Discrete Mathematics Fall 018 MAT30 (Discrete Math) Mathematical Induction Fall 018 1 / 19
Outline 1 Mathematical Induction Strong Mathematical Induction MAT30 (Discrete Math) Mathematical Induction Fall 018 / 19
Motivation Suppose we were presented with the formula 1 + + 3 + + n = n(n + 1) but were not shown how it was derived. How could we prove that it holds for all integers n 1? We could try a bunch of different values of n and find that it works, but how can we know it works for all n 1? MAT30 (Discrete Math) Mathematical Induction Fall 018 3 / 19
Mathematical Induction This sort of problem is solved using mathematical induction. Some key points: Mathematical induction is used to prove that each statement in a list of statements is true. Often this list is countably infinite (i.e. indexed by the natural numbers). It consists of four parts: a base step, an explicit statement of the inductive hypothesis, an inductive step, and a summary statement. MAT30 (Discrete Math) Mathematical Induction Fall 018 4 / 19
Mathematical Induction Here is a list of statements corresponding to the sum we are interested in. P(1): 1 = (1)(1 + 1)/ P(): 1 + = ()( + 1)/ P(3): 1 + + 3 = (3)(3 + 1)/.. P(n 1): 1 + + 3 + + (n 1) = (n 1)((n 1) + 1)/ P(n): 1 + + 3 + + (n 1) + n = (n)(n + 1)/ Notice that the list is finite as it contains n statements. However, proving all these are true for any positive integer n means that we have proved an infinite number of statements. MAT30 (Discrete Math) Mathematical Induction Fall 018 5 / 19
Mathematical Induction Using mathematical induction is a bit like setting up cascading dominos: We begin by proving P(1) is true. This is the base step. We next show that P(k) P(k + 1) for k 1. This is the inductive step. We now know that P(1) P(). But as soon as P() is known to be true we can say P() P(3). But then P(3) P(4), P(4) P(5), P(5) P(6),... MAT30 (Discrete Math) Mathematical Induction Fall 018 6 / 19
Mathematical Induction Proof Proposition 1 + + + n = n(n + 1) for any n Z +. Proof. We prove this by mathematical induction. (Base Case) When n = 1 we find 1 = 1(1 + 1) so the statement is true when n = 1. = = 1 MAT30 (Discrete Math) Mathematical Induction Fall 018 7 / 19
Mathematical Induction Proof Proof (continued). We now want to show that if for some k Z + then 1 + + + k + (k + 1) = 1 + + + k = k(k + 1) (k + 1)((k + 1) + 1) = (k + 1)(k + ). (Note: Stating this does not prove anything, but is very helpful. It forces us to explicitly write what we are going to prove, so both we (as prover) and the reader know what to look for in the remainder of the inductive step.) MAT30 (Discrete Math) Mathematical Induction Fall 018 8 / 19
Mathematical Induction Proof Proof (continued). (Inductive Hypothesis) Suppose 1 + + + k = k Z +. (Inductive Step) Then k(k + 1) for some 1 + + + k = 1 + + + k + (k + 1) = = = = k(k + 1) k(k + 1) + (k + 1) k(k + 1) (k + 1) + k(k + 1) + (k + 1) (k + 1)(k + ) MAT30 (Discrete Math) Mathematical Induction Fall 018 9 / 19
Mathematical Induction Proof Proof (continued). (Summary) It follows by induction that 1 + + + n = n Z +. n(n + 1) for all MAT30 (Discrete Math) Mathematical Induction Fall 018 10 / 19
Mathematical Induction Logic Notice that mathematical induction is an application of Modus Ponens: (P(1)) ( k Z +, (P(k) P(k + 1))) ( n Z +, P(n)) Some notes: The actual indexing scheme used is unimportant. For example, we could start with P(0), P(), or even P( 1) rather than P(1). The key is that we start with a specific statement, and then prove that any one statements implies the next. To prove something about statements indexed by the integers, the inductive step would include two parts P(k) P(k + 1) and P(k) P(k 1). MAT30 (Discrete Math) Mathematical Induction Fall 018 11 / 19
Example Recall that a b means a divides b. This is a proposition; it is true if there is a nonzero integer k such that b = ka otherwise it is false. Proposition Show that 3 (n 3 n) whenever n is a positive integer. Proof. We use mathematical induction. When n = 1 we find n 3 n = 1 1 = 0 and 3 0 so the statement is proved for n = 1. Now we need to show that if 3 (k 3 k) for some integer k > 0 then 3 ((k + 1) 3 (k + 1)). MAT30 (Discrete Math) Mathematical Induction Fall 018 1 / 19
Example Proof (continued). Suppose that 3 (k 3 k). Then (k 3 k) = 3a for some integer a. Then, starting with (k + 1) 3 (k + 1), we find (k + 1) 3 (k + 1) = k 3 + 3k + 3k + 1 k 1 = (k 3 k) + 3k + 3k = 3a + 3k + 3k = 3(a + k + k). We know that a + k + k is an integer so we see that (k + 1) 3 (k + 1) is a multiple of 3. By definition, therefore, 3 ((k + 1) 3 (k + 1)). It follows by induction that 3 (n 3 n) for all integers n > 0. MAT30 (Discrete Math) Mathematical Induction Fall 018 13 / 19
Strong Mathematical Induction Sometimes it is helpful to use a slightly different inductive step. In particular, it may be difficult or impossible to show P(k) P(k + 1) but easier (or possible) to show that (P(1) P() P(k)) P(k + 1). In other words, assume that all statements from P(1) to P(k) have been proved and use some combination of them to prove P(k + 1). This is called strong mathematical induction. MAT30 (Discrete Math) Mathematical Induction Fall 018 14 / 19
Strong Mathematical Induction Example Proposition Any integer n > 11 can be written in the form n = 4a + 5b for a, b Z. Proof. We use mathematical induction. Let P(n) be the statement n can be written in the form 4a + 5b for some a, b Z and note that P(1) : 1 = 4(3) + 5(0) P(13) : 13 = 4() + 5(1) P(14) : 14 = 4(1) + 5() P(15) : 15 = 4(0) + 5(3) to see that P(1), P(13), P(14), and P(15) are all true. MAT30 (Discrete Math) Mathematical Induction Fall 018 15 / 19
Strong Mathematical Induction Example Proof (continued). Now, suppose that P(k 3), P(k ), P(k 1), and P(k) have all been proved. This means that P(k 3) is true, so we know that k 3 = 4a + 5b for some integers a and b. Adding 4 to both sides we have k 3 + 4 = 4a + 5b + 4 k + 1 = 4(a + 1) + 5b so P(k + 1) must be true, completing the induction. MAT30 (Discrete Math) Mathematical Induction Fall 018 16 / 19
Another Mathematical Induction Example Proposition 9 (10 n 1) for all integers n 0. Proof. (By induction on n.) When n = 0 we find 10 n 1 = 10 0 1 = 0 and since 9 0 we see the statement holds for n = 0. Now suppose the statement holds for all values of n up to some integer k; we need to show it holds for k + 1. Since 9 (10 k 1) we know that 10 k 1 = 9x for some x Z. Multiplying both sides by 10 gives 10 (10 k 1) = 10 9x 10 k+1 10 = 9 10x 10 k+1 1 = 9 10x + 9 = 9 (10x + 1) which clearly shows that 9 (10 k+1 1). This completes the induction. MAT30 (Discrete Math) Mathematical Induction Fall 018 17 / 19
Fibonacci Numbers The Fibonacci sequence is usually defined as the sequence starting with f 0 = 0 and f 1 = 1, and then recursively as f n = f n 1 + f n. The Fibonacci sequence starts off with 0, 1, 1,, 3, 5, 8, 13, 1, 34,.... MAT30 (Discrete Math) Mathematical Induction Fall 018 18 / 19
Fibonacci Numbers Proposition Prove that f 0 + f 1 + f + + f n = f n+ 1 for n. Proof. We use induction. As our base case, notice that f 0 + f 1 = f 3 1 since f 0 + f 1 = 0 + 1 = 1, and f 3 1 = 1 = 1. Suppose that f 0 + f 1 + f + + f k = f k+ 1 for some k. Adding f k+1 on both sides, we have f 0 + f 1 + f + + f k + f k+1 = f k+ 1 + f k+1 = f k+1 + f k+ 1 This completes the induction. = f k+3 1. MAT30 (Discrete Math) Mathematical Induction Fall 018 19 / 19